Signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease: Age-related mild forgetfulness can be a regular occurrence. If you have trouble remembering someone’s name but remember it later, it is not a serious memory loss. However, memory problems can be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease if they significantly affect your daily life. Although Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurological disorder, many individuals mistakenly think that it is a natural part of aging. Because of this mindset, many of us end up ignoring the early warning signals that our brains may be sending. Here are seven early signs that a potential Alzheimer’s patient may have that you shouldn’t miss.Also Read – Can mushrooms help manage Alzheimer’s disease? Here’s what we know
- Memory loss during activities of daily living: You may forget about an arranged Zoom meeting or struggle to remember the name of someone you recently met. However, a person with Alzheimer’s disease will forget discussions or events and may not remember them at all in the future.
- Loss of ability to solve problems: While anyone can make mistakes in mathematical calculations, individuals with Alzheimer’s may have difficulty following instructions or lose the ability to perform simple activities they previously mastered. They may lose interest in favorite games or be baffled by complicated directions.
- Confusion about time and place: Alzheimer’s patients may lose their way home or get lost in familiar areas. They may be uncertain about the time of day and what is acceptable at that moment. In such situations they may dress inappropriately.
- Limitations in languages. Alzheimer’s patients may become disoriented in the middle of a conversation, forget words, or have difficulty putting sentences together. They may struggle to read. While there is occasional difficulty finding the right words, persistent language problems may be indicative of dementia.
- Wrong things: Many of us accidentally leave things behind and then have to go back and find them. Alzheimer’s patients may be unable to follow their own steps, or they may accuse others of stealing things that have been misplaced. One of the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s is the placement of objects in unexpected places.
- Poor decision making skills: People with Alzheimer’s disease may struggle with money management, give up on cleaning themselves, or take risky actions. They may leave the stove on or act inappropriately in social settings.
- Changes in personality or character: Some Alzheimer’s patients have personality changes. They may stop being as sociable as before, or they may act irrationally or become impatient. Some Alzheimer’s sufferers become apathetic or walk around.
If you have any of these symptoms, consult your doctor and get your physical and mental health checked. They will review your medical history and perform a mental status examination to assess your memory, problem-solving abilities, and ability for simple reasoning. They may also do blood or brain imaging tests. If you notice these changes in a loved one or yourself, it’s time to consult a doctor. Discuss with them about going to the doctor together. Ask your primary care physician or internal medicine specialist about dementia. Also Read – Alzheimer’s disease and dementia: causes, symptoms, diagnostic tests and treatment
(With inputs from Dr. Pawan Pai, Consultant Interventional Neurologist and Stroke Specialist, Wockhardt Hospitals Mira Road) Also Read – World Alzheimer’s Day 2021: Issues from weight loss to anger – key symptoms you should know about
